Which of today’s new cars will become future classics?

We asked our automotive experts to predict the best investments, from a "keep it for decades" perspective

by
Staff, Driving | January 5, 2016

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The average new car buyer might not consider future collectibility when shopping around, but just imagine being one of those lucky owners who held on to a now-classic auto for a few decades – and don’t forget, time will eventually create a new generation of future classics-to-be. In the spirit of New Year’s fortune telling, we asked our reviewers which new cars they believe will become classics.

Graeme Fletcher

2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

Predicting what will become a future collectible in today’s disposable society is like trying to pick winning lottery numbers. Most true collectibles were either the product of a limited run and/or the carnage over the years rendered them rarer than hen’s teeth. This means the most sought-after vintage vehicles command the winnings of said lottery.

Waffling aside, there are two I would put some coin into as being future keepsakes. The first is the Alfa Romeo 4C. It is exotic, with its carbon-fibre body, go-like-the-blazes turn of speed and impish driving characteristics. There may be plenty of availability today, but the mechanical woes for which said Italian company is famed means there will only be a collectible few running in 25 years.

The second is the MX-5 — I still think of it as the Miata, and to heck with what Mazda says! It is about as much fun to drive as it’s possible to have while wearing Levi’s. Yes, the performance is so-so, but you can drive the tires off it and it just keeps coming back for more. Few cars, regardless of which generation Miata you pick, are as enduring and timeless in their driving appeal.

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I often think the idea of a modern classic is something of a misnomer; as cars get progressively more complex, keeping them on the road will become exponentially more difficult. You won’t just need to know how to jet a carb or weld a seam, you’ll need a degree in electronics to repair your seven ECU’s (engine control units). Then again, there’s a guy like Harjeet Kalsi, who manages to keep a mechanic’s nightmare like the Aston-Martin Lagonda going, seemingly without issue – so perhaps there’s hope for the future.

My advice? Buy anything they aren’t making more of, naturally aspirated Porsches and Ferraris, especially. Too rich for your blood? Buy a Hellcat – not sure one of those will be allowed to hit the road again. The Shelby GT350 Mustang should be pretty depreciation-proof, as well.

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Still too much for your bank account? Try a Fiesta ST. It’s a brilliant little car and readily available, but I get the sense many of these are going to be hooned into happy oblivion. Twenty-five years hence, with self-driving cars everywhere, break out your pristine garage queen and go blitzing the backroads.

Brian Harper

2016 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang

Any two from a combination of performance, pedigree and rarity will just about guarantee a future collectible. Putting aside such obvious contenders as models bearing Ferrari and Porsche badges (plus a number of other models with price tags north of $100K), I believe the new Shelby GT350 Mustang ($62,599 to start) has the requisites for collectibility.

First off, the Shelby name has a 50-year history with the Mustang, and is the gold standard when it comes to the pony car. Performance? How about the most powerful naturally aspirated road-going engine in Ford history — the racing-inspired 5.2-litre flat-plane crankshaft V8? Thumping out 526 horsepower and 429 lb.-ft. of torque for both the GT350 and the GT350R, the V8 — with an 8,250-rpm redline — is the highest-revving V8 the company has ever made.

Damn quick once it hooks up — 80 to 120 km/h takes a mere 2.9 seconds — the GT350 also brakes and handles like no other Mustang I’ve driven before, on or off the track. Forgive the sophomoric descriptor, but it also looks incredibly badass.

Lorraine Sommerfeld

2016 Chevrolet Camaro

The 2016 Camaro was a long-awaited overhaul of a classic, and it delivered. Superb handling and just a beautiful ride, enthusiasts won’t be disappointed. It’s what you can’t see in the Camaro that will tweak future collectors; this sixth generation arrives on GM’s Alpha platform, the same one that powers the Cadillac CTS and ATS. Camaro and Mustang have long duked it out for dominance, and while I doubt purists will be changing horses (or ponies) at this point, those new to the segment won’t be able to overlook the fact the Camaro is going to pull ahead.

David Booth

2016 Mazda MX-5

Well, the prettiest car of the year — Ferraris and Lamborghinis aside — has to be Mazda’s latest MX-5. The highest compliment I can pay Mazda’s little sexpot is that it looks more Italian than the 124 Spider that is Fiat’s version of the little runabout. The MX-5’s fenders are more dramatic, the front fascia is a little more comely and, dare I say it, the interior is a little more inviting. If beauty be any indication of future collectibility, then the MX-5 is sure to be a classic.